Officials were urged to investigate why flammable fossil fuels allegedly escaped containment in the Western Downs region.
Resources Safety and Health Queensland recently received reports of multiple leaks and failed pressure tests at Shell’s and Origin Energy’s Jordan coal seam gas (CSG) operations near Chinchilla, 164km northwest of Toowoomba.
Lock the Gate Alliance accused both proponents of inadequately maintaining at least two wells, causing them to rust, release gas and potentially contaminate groundwater back in 2021. Although state government documents show the wells have since been abandoned, activists are still unclear about whether they were actually sealed.
“We have always feared that piercing the underground water layers that sustain the Western Downs like a pincushion with thousands of CSG wells, is putting water quality at risk if well corrosion occurs,” Queensland co-ordinator Ellie Smith said in a public statement.
“Well corrosion is a major risk in the long term but it is even more shocking to see that it is already occurring in Queensland gas fields.”
Shell defended its handling of the matter, claiming its operations have always been maintained at a high standard.
“We carry out regular maintenance to ensure that infrastructure remains safe and strong, and have a well integrity management system in place where wells are regularly tested,” a company spokesperson said according to the the Australian Associated Press.
“Any well integrity incidents or issues are investigated immediately and reported to the relevant regulators in accordance with our obligations.”
Click here to read the full government documents.
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